Hinduism and Christianity?

I've been throwing around some ideas in the back of mind, comparing Christianity (what I grew up with) to other religions that I've been learning about. I was reading a book by Diarmaid MacCulloch and he made this really great statement: "Christianity is, at root, a personality cult." This got me thinking about Christianity and the way it is entirely centered around the personality (as reported/portrayed in the Bible) of Jesus Christ. I believe that if one were to boil down Christianity to one point, you could say that the goal of the religion is to love God/Jesus with all your heart.

This thought brought me to when I was learning a bit about Hinduism and the different paths the religion has to God. Specifically, Christianity reminded me strongly of Bhakti Yoga because (correct me if I'm wrong!) the principle of Bhakti Yoga is to worship one god (aspect of God) and love that god with all your heart. In that way, isn't Christianity like Bhakti Yoga? For most people, it is probably easier to love something more concrete like an image of God. Couldn't Christianity be to Judaism what Bhakti Yoga is to other branches of Hinduism?

Specifically, Christianity reminded me strongly of Bhakti Yoga because (correct me if I'm wrong!) the principle of Bhakti Yoga is to worship one god (aspect of God) and love that god with all your heart. In that way, isn't Christianity like Bhakti Yoga?

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Hi On_a_Quest!

There is a very good book on comparative religion called The World's Religions by Huston Smith and this is pretty much his point - that Christianity is Bhakti yoga.

I've been throwing around some ideas in the back of mind, comparing Christianity (what I grew up with) to other religions that I've been learning about. I was reading a book by Diarmaid MacCulloch and he made this really great statement: "Christianity is, at root, a personality cult." This got me thinking about Christianity and the way it is entirely centered around the personality (as reported/portrayed in the Bible) of Jesus Christ. I believe that if one were to boil down Christianity to one point, you could say that the goal of the religion is to love God/Jesus with all your heart.

This thought brought me to when I was learning a bit about Hinduism and the different paths the religion has to God. Specifically, Christianity reminded me strongly of Bhakti Yoga because (correct me if I'm wrong!) the principle of Bhakti Yoga is to worship one god (aspect of God) and love that god with all your heart. In that way, isn't Christianity like Bhakti Yoga? For most people, it is probably easier to love something more concrete like an image of God. Couldn't Christianity be to Judaism what Bhakti Yoga is to other branches of Hinduism?

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Not really. Bhakti Yoga isn't necessarily separate from other Yogas, but is most often combined with them. It's also not necessarily directed to a concrete image, so Judaism, etc. can have just as much Bhakti as Christianity.

Everyday here I feel a little bit less 'in left field' or at least not alone there when I read ideas like this.
Several years ago I came to feel this way, and it's awesome to see others' feel this way.
Whew..... now I can take a few less crazy pills..... or maybe I should share them

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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Ecclesiastes is another Book attributed to Solomon, that I feel, is worth a read and is one that I hear and understand through a Dharmic filter.

In other words, my mind has a hard time not understanding the language through more 'Eastern' philosophical language.

Vanity is the word used over and over, and what I feel the message of the Book is about correct understanding of the Self, Attachment, Physical/Material world and relationship in God.

Granted, it's not indecipherable about which traditions it comes from. It is carrying it's own cultural understandings, norms and trappings, but I feel it speaks to me and chimes the same bells as when I am reading Hindu scriptures and writings.

And would be interested to hear what any of you that have read it, or will read it, thinks.